A rookie flyer, Ens. Alan Drake, joins the famous Hellcats Squadron right out of flight school in Pensacola. He doesn't make a great first impression when he is forced to ditch his airplane...
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On leave in Italy, Lt. Tommy Knowlton falls in love with Jean Standish, who's not only married, but is the daughter of his submarine's commander. Friction between the two officers becomes ... See full summary »

Storyline

A rookie flyer, Ens. Alan Drake, joins the famous Hellcats Squadron right out of flight school in Pensacola. He doesn't make a great first impression when he is forced to ditch his airplane and parachute to safety when he arrives at the base but is unable to land due to heavy fog. On his first official outing, his poor shooting skills results in the Hellcats losing an air combat competition. His fellow pilots accept him anyway but they think he's crossed the line when they erroneously conclude that while their CO Billy Gray is away, Drake has an affair with his wife Lorna. Drake is now an outcast and is prepared to resign from the Navy but his extreme heroism in saving Billy Gray's life turns things around.Written by
garykmcd

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Trivia

This film received its initial television broadcasts in Seattle Friday 5 April 1957 on KING (Channel 5) and in Hartford CT Saturday 6 April 1957 on WHCT (Channel 18, followed by Philadelphia 26 April 1957 on WFIL (Channel 6), by New Haven CT 3 May 1957 on WNHC (Channel 8), by both Los Angeles and Altoona PA 10 May 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11) and on WFBG (Channel 10), by Portland OR 11 May 1957 on KGW (Channel 8), by San Antonio 26 May 1957 on WOAI (Channel 4), by Norfolk VA 8 June 1957 on WTAR (Channel 3), by Syracuse 9 June 1957 on WHEN (Channel 8), by Minneapolis 10 July 1957 on KMGM (Channel 9), and by Chicago 13 July 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), but its earliest documented telecasts did not occur in San Francisco until 5 March 1959 on KGO (Channel 7) and in New York City until 21 May 1959 on WCBS (Channel 2). See more »

Goofs

When Cmdr. Gary is in his hospital bed, after his head/brain surgery, he is still wearing his navy ring. In truth all jewelry is removed for surgery in case of swelling, for one reason. See more »

User Reviews

Lots of fun. Wells Root and Commander Harvey Haislip penned this screenplay from an original story Haislip also co-authored about an eager Naval Flight School cadet (Robert Taylor) in Pensacola flying solo out to Southern California to join Hellcat Fighters who have just lost one of their beloved teammates; he makes a colorful entrance (having to ditch his plane and parachute into the ocean because of fog!) and finds an early friend in a somewhat-emotional woman...the Skipper's wife! Camaraderie between the pilots on the ground is enjoyably written and played, with Taylor's charming self-assurance an interesting dynamic within the group (he isn't cocky, he's careful--though anxious to fit in). Subplot with Ruth Hussey's lonesome wife is soapy yet surprisingly skillful, while the aerial maneuvers are nicely photographed. An extra bonus: Red Skelton as a joshing lieutenant...and Walter Pidgeon looking younger than I have ever seen him. **1/2 from ****

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